Jacob Beck’19. (Sari Shocket’22/Media)

The Academy boys swimming team started its season with two outstanding performances on Friday, November 30, and Saturday, December 1.

The AquaVikes took a strong victory at their season opener on Friday, November 30, facing Bishop Watterson at a duel meet. The Vikings easily won 120-34, showing strength from all members of the squad.

CA then hosted its annual Academy Relays on Saturday, December 1, welcoming Bexley, Delaware Hayes, Gahanna-Lincoln, Wellington, and Westerville North to our natatorium. Swimmers competed in a variety of relays, some of which are only swum at relay meets. The boys were narrowly edged out by competitor Gahanna and placed second. The Vikes and the Lions were neck and neck for most of the meet, but Gahanna narrowly pulled ahead to take the victory, 98-94. 

The meet started with Jack Campbell’19, David Barren’19, Mike DeAscentis’20, and Eric DeVore’19 taking second in the 400 medley relay. This momentum was built on by Rowan Hennessy’21 and freshmen Andrew Barren, Cyrus Hannallah, and Cy Richardson, whose 800 freestyle relay took 4th.

DeAscentis, DeVore, and Campbell placed first in the 300 medley relay, and James Cao’20, along with seniors Barren, Ethan Nankervis, and Jacob Beck, nabbed another gold with a narrow victory in the 200 freestyle relay.

Freshmen talents Drake Bellisari, Hannallah, and Richardson took third in the 200 butterfly relay. Nankervis, DeVore, Cao, and DeAscentis placed first in the 500 freestyle relay, and Cao returned to the pool right after to lead Hennessey and Campbell in a first-place 300 backstroke relay.

Hannallah, Barren’22, and Barren’19 placed sixth in the 300 breaststroke relay, and a 400 freestyle relay led by Nankervis, Richardson, Bellisari, and Beck took second overall.

The Vikes hope to build on this momentum as they host Hayes for a dual meet on Friday, December 7, before travelling to Ohio State’s Ned Reeb Memorial Invitational on Saturday, December 8.